Skate



Oct. 19 1926.. r 1,603,588

F. EBERLE SKATE Filed April l7 1925 fi/WW 56225 BY W nun

FERDINAND IEBERLE, F TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

SKATE.

Application filed April 17, 1925.

My invention relates to improvements in skates and the objects of the invention is to produce a skate which will conform in skating practically to the natural movement of the foot in walking, and thereby obviate the strain on the foot incident to ordinary skating and particularly the tiresome strain on the instep.

My invention consists of a skate made for the major or foot portion of its length in one blade and for the minor or heel portion of its length in a separate blade which is hinged to the rear of the front blade, the foot plate at the front portion being rigidly connected to it and a heel plate being hinged on the heel portion of the blade so that when the heel portion of the plate is raised at the rear or canted upwardly on its hinge the heel plate is caused to cant at an opposite slant, the skate being otherwise constructed as hereinafter more particularly er:- plained.

Fig. 1 is a side-view of an ice skate con structed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a roller skate having the same features.

In the drawings like numerals indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to Fig. 1. 1 is my skate which consists of a front blade portion 2, and the rear blade portion 3, hinged together on a suitable pivotal rivet 4 preferably in proximity to the upper edge of the blade so as to throw the pivot as close to the front of the heel or portion of the shank of the shoe, where the bend or hinge of the shoe occurs when walking.

5 is a shoe which has the sole of the foot portion supported and secured to the blade 2 by the foot plate 6 connected to the blade by the side brackets 7 and 8 riveted upon each side of the blade and connected to this foot plate.

9 is the heel plate which has connected to it the brackets 10 which extend one on each side of the heel nortion 3 of the blade. The brackets 10 are rigidly connected to the bottom of the heel plate but are pivotally connected to the heel portion 3 by a pin or rivet 11.

It will be noticed that the rear of the front portion 2 of the blade and the front of the rear portion 3, are curved upwardly towards the pivot point 4, hereinbefore referred to.

In Fig. 2 I show my invention adaptable to a roller skate.

Serial No. 23,951.

Having now described the principal parts involved in my invention, 1 shall briefly describe its utility.

it will be seen that the pivot between the front and rear portions of the blade 2 and 3, is near the upper edge of the blade and in proximity to the heel of the shoe. This enables the foot to be moved or raised at the heel-without undue strain by reason of the heel plate 9 having a pivotal or hinge connection with the rear portion 3 and it will be seen that the heel plate tilts in this movement in the opposite slant to that of the heel portion of the blade in relation thereto.

1 am aware that it is not new to hinge a blade of a skate intermediately of its length, but I find from actual. demonstration and use of skates and long experience in skating that such hinge alone is no advantage practically more than when the blade is made in one, as far as the relief to or easy movement of the foot is concerned. By providing a heel plate hinged or pivotally connected to the rear portion of the blade, however, in connection with the intermediate hinging of the blade in proximity to the heel I am enabled to skate with as equal facility as walk, and without anyi more liability of becoming tired or any undue strain on the feet.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention is:

1. A skate comprising a blade made in two portions hinged together intermediate of its length, immediately in front of and below the level of the heel of the shoe and substantially vertically below the pivot bone of the ankle when the heel is raised, a foot plate rigidly connected to the front portion, and a heel plate hingedly connected to the rear portion whereby when the rear portion tilts upwardly the heel plate tilts downwardly at the rear in relation to the top edge of the heel portion.

2. A skate comprising a blade made in two portions, a front and heel portion designed to be fastened to the sole and heel of the shoe and hinged together beneath the front of the heel of the shoe, the heel plate being hinged to the heel portion of the blade, so that by the raising of the heel of the shoe the heel portion of the blade is raised and the heel plate is tilted reversely in relation to the heel portion.

FERDINAND EBERLE. a 

